Leaning against the tiled wall just outside of the public bathroom, Gardner props a foot up on the wall and whips out the phone Terry doesn't know he has. Quickly, he sends off two texts before taking his SIM card out and burying the phone in a nearby trashcan. Feigning innocence, he pockets the small bit of technology and looks over at some signs posted on the wall.
"Sorry I took so long. The damn hand dryer wouldn't work for a while," Terry says as he emerges from the restroom. He rubs his hands on the fabric of his jeans. "So, where to next?"
"I'm a bit hungry," Gardner lies, giving the older male a crooked smile. "Anywhere's fine with me."
"Well, I'm in the mood for a good ol' pretzel. Let's go!" Terry exclaims in a hushed voice, adjusting his hat. He nods in another direction and they head off.
Currently, they're at the shopping mall. It had taken a bit of walking and time to hail a taxi, as Terry hadn't arrived to the manor in his own car and taking one of Bruce's would arouse suspicion. None of them had said a thing to any other occupant of the house but it's more than likely that Alfred already knows of their absence.
As Gardner trails behind, his lips quirk upwards at one corner. No, there's no evil plan forming in his head. Just a little bit of mischief making, that's all. Then, like a bullet ripping through the air, he's hit with something.
Not literally, though. It's more like a sudden realization that he'd rather not dwell on. So, he chooses to smile softly.
A few minutes later, as they stand in line, Gardner grasps Terry's wrist.
"Hey, Terry?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
•••
Terry panics, pulling Gardner's arm and dragging the younger male into an alleyway. Ducking down behind a dumpster, the two of them let out twin sighs of relief before holding their breaths. The two share a look before peering out from behind their hiding spots.
It seems that maybe the disguises weren't good enough. One minute, both boys had been sitting on a bench eating pretzels and making up stories about the lives of the passers-by. Then, the next, there's cameras flashing in their faces and people asking when Richard Grayson had gotten back and where had he been.
In a moment of anger, Terry turns to Gardner and flashes an annoyed glare.
"Dick, what the hell did you do?"
"It was an accident."
Dragging a hand down his face, Terry rises to his feet. Gardner looks up at him and then mirrors his actions. The younger of the two sighs and bites his lip.
"I don't know what happened. Regardless, it was an accident, I swear."
"It's fine," Terry says in a low voice. "I'm sorry about snapping. We should head home."
Quietly, Gardner says, "Home?"
"The manor, I mean."
•••
Meanwhile, Damian is well aware of the fact that two boys had just snuck out of Wayne Manor. He, of course, had done nothing to stop it. He doesn't need to as some bad karma will target the two sooner or later.
Instead, he chooses to find Jason. He's almost positive that the anti-hero of sorts is in kahoots with the must-be impostor. He runs into Tim as the Titan has yet to leave.
"Looking for something?" Tim asks, observing the older boy with a look of slight disdain.
"Someone, actually," Damian replies. "Have you seen Todd anywhere? I wish to speak with him."
"He was headed toward Dick's room," Tim says.
Damian snorts. He really doesn't believe that the once-dead brother of his would willingly hang out with Grayson. It's just another reason to back-up his impostor theory. "You're useful for something, Drake," he says. "If you wish to be of better use, perhaps you'll fetch McGinnis and the impostor before the press gets to them."
Tim pauses, furrowing his brows. "Excuse me?"
"You hadn't noticed? The two snuck out a while ago. Figures. You're just as incompetent as Todd."
Without saying anything, the other man brushes past Damian and all but flies down the stairs. Now, Damian can have a bit of a one-on-one confrontation with Jason. Hopefully, he'll get the answers he wants.
So, he heads off towards Dick's room.
When he reaches his destination, he's pulled inside and shoved back. Jason shuts the door and locks it behind him before eyeing him with a hint of annoyance.
"What is the meaning of this?" Damian barks, scowling.
"Goldie wanted me to tell you something," replies Jason with a shrug. He leans against the door, cool and composed.
"The impostor, you mean?"
A groan escapes the other male's lips. "He's not an impostor, Damian," Jason retorts, rolling his eyes. "It's not what you think."
Narrowing his eyes, Damian huffs. He challenges Jason to prove otherwise, and, for once, allowing the other to explain whatever it is he must explain. So, that's what Jason does.
"It's a long story. Maybe you should sit your pompous ass down and listen. Think you can do that, Dami?"
Before the blood son can reply, Jason jumps into his explanation.
•••
"He just showed up one day, claiming to be a kid by the name of Dan Degnar! I swear, dude, I have no idea if that's his real name or not but he's got a digital diploma and an I.D. so we couldn't not hire him. He's a good kid, all right?"
Wally barely suppresses a groan as he buried himself deeper in his bed, if possible. He didn't get anything useful out of the real Gardner LaRou. The fact that the employee had no idea of not-Gardner's real name did nothing to quench Wally's idea of the doppelgänger actually being his best friend.
He sits up after a while and sighs.
Yes, he really does want his best friend back but... if not-Gardner is Dick, why didn't he say something? Anything? It's been two years and he just wants some answers.
The hungry teen manages to get out of bed for a snack. He'll think better with a full stomach. And, maybe, he'll think up a way to confront not-Gardner.
Apparently, his (not) moping had messed with his senses or something. He hadn't heard his uncle come in so seeing the man at the kitchen table with his parents was a bit of a surprise.
"Uncle B!" Wally yells, managing a grin. "When did you get here?"
Barry raises his brows. "I thought you'd be at the manor?"
Swiftly, a look of distress appears on Wally's face. "Something happened. I needed time to think."
"Oh?" Barry looks partially intrigued and worried. So, he excuses himself from his fellow adults and gets up. He quickly swings an arm around Wally's shoulders. "What's up, kid?"
"It's a long story."
"I got all day, kid."
•••
Because Barry must be part wizard, the truth had been stolen from Wally and revealed to the older man. Somehow, Barry managed to get Wally to spill everything. Everything. From that fated night in the café to the reveal of Gardner really being not-Gardner and someone going by the name of Dan Degnar, which sounds totally fake if one were to ask him.
Surprisingly, the man had taken it well enough.
"Look, Wally, I'm almost certain that that was Dick that Bruce brought home," Barry says, leaning back.
Caught off guard by that declaration, Wally looks over at his uncle with curious eyes. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," Barry says with a definite nod. "I've known the kid since he was, what, eight? Nine? So had Bruce and all of Dick's brothers. I would know that kid anywhere by now and I'm sure he has a good reason for lying to you."
"Seriously."
Barry throws his head back, laughing. After a few seconds of guffaws and cackles, he says, "Do I really have to say it again? Just talk to him. If it's any consolation, you can't fool a guy like Bruce. If he thinks it's Dick then it has to be."
"And if he's not?"
"Don't think about it. Trust me. More importantly, trust you."
•••
Gardner really doesn't like pickles. He doesn't like eating them or being in one.
He really likes it when someone comes to his rescue. Like Tim. Tim had arrived in a rather inconspicuous car, throwing one of the doors open and yelling at Gardner and Terry to get in and buckle up.
"Are you mad?" Gardner asks.
"Mad? No. Disappointed? Yes," Tim answers in a stiff voice. He glances at Gardner using the rear view mirror. "What were you two thinking?"
"It was my idea, Tim," Terry confesses. "Dick needed to breathe some city air, not the manor's."
Tim resists the urge to facepalm. He kind of has to focus on the traffic and avoiding any of the press and paparazzi. "You didn't think to tell anyone? Dick's return is supposed to be on the down-low until Bruce can figure something out. Or until Dick can figure out exactly what happened to him and how he ended up where he did instead of coming back home."
Terry manages to laugh a little. "I know, Tim, but who knows how long that will take? Besides, it was only a few pictures."
"I don't know, Terry," Gardner pipes up. "The situation wasn't astrous at all. Somehow, the press was alerted. That doesn't bode too well, does it?"
Tim freezes in his seat. He turns briefly to look at the both of them before focusing his gaze onto the road. "You two kept your so-called disguises on the entire time, right? It took me a moment to recognize you but I don't think anyone else would've been able to deduce your identities like I had."
Gardner hums. "You don't think someone was watching us and tipped off the press, right?"
"Well, if that's the case, then... shit."
"Language, Terry."
•••
"What do you think this is, Todd? A game?"
"Isn't it?" Then, he shrugs. "Actually, more like an art if you ask me. The art of deception. That's what it is."
Gah. This... this was so hard to write. A lot of it must feel forced. That's cuz it was. I wanted to fulfill my promise of updating during my break.
So... school is hella stressful. I, as a high school freshman with four honors classes, have managed to get all A's last quarter. Anywho, I pray that my English grade doesn't suffer. Weighted grades suck. I have a project worth a lot of points and it seems that all responsibility has fallen onto me to complete it by Tuesday. Send help.
A lot of stuff went down in this chapter. I guess you can consider it the climax moment. Or maybe it's still an uphill climb from here.
Please review. I'm an attention-starved angsty teenager looking to feel good about herself. :)) All the reviews last chapter were greatly appreciated, as were the ones from the beginnings of this fic. My inspiration had been running dry but a few reviews managed to motivate me a bit.
Anywho, I hope you guys had a lovely day. An update for Trouvaille should be up within the next half hour.
Oh yeah, so, next month. December. It's my month of birth. I'll be getting a new laptop to replace the one I broke months ago. Thank golly too as I didn't realize how many projects I'd need to do online. My brother's getting hella annoyed with me using his computer.